Edge computing nodes supported by smart contract enabled blockchain network with on-chain and off-chain solution verification

A non-transitory physical storage medium for storing program code accessible by a processor on a peer edge computing node in a peer-to-peer edge computing network, for blockchain and smart contract-supported decentralized computation with off-chain solution verification, the program code when executed by the processor causing the processor to:

• poll a deployed reward smart contract on a blockchain maintained by a blockchain network for an availability of a computation task registered on the blockchain by a peer task initiator node in the peer-to-peer edge computing network,
• wherein the peer-to-peer edge computing network comprises a first plurality of peer nodes including the peer edge computing node and the peer task initiator node,
• wherein each of the first plurality of peer nodes is a peer edge computing node configured to perform edge computing functions,
• wherein the blockchain network comprises a second plurality of peer nodes distinct from the first plurality of peer nodes,
• wherein each of the second plurality of peer nodes is a peer guardian node participating in consensus to finalize blocks in the blockchain and in executing smart contracts in finalized blocks of the blockchain,
• wherein each of the first plurality of peer edge computing nodes is connected to at least one of the second plurality of peer guardian nodes,
• wherein the computation task is registered on the blockchain by the peer task initiator node by sending an identifier for the computation task to at least one of the second plurality of peer guardian nodes, as input to the deployed reward smart contract on the blockchain, and
• wherein the deployed reward smart contract is executed by each of the second plurality of peer guardian nodes,
• select the peer task initiator node based on the availability of the computation task polled from the deployed reward smart contract, and a reputation score of the peer task initiator node;
• send a poll message to the peer task initiator node, through a peer-to-peer network connection between the peer task initiator node and the peer edge computing node, requesting a task information for the computation task,
• wherein the task information is needed to complete the computation task;
• receive the task information for the computation task from the peer task initiator node through the peer-to-peer network connection;
• compute a solution to the computation task;
• submit the solution to the peer task initiator node through the peer-to-peer network connection,
• wherein the peer task initiator node verifies the solution by determining a validity of the solution;
• submit a function of the solution to the deployed reward smart contract;
• and
• receive a reward from a reward pool on the blockchain for computing the solution,
• wherein the peer task initiator node notifies the deployed reward smart contract to transfer the reward from the reward pool on the blockchain to the peer edge computing node based on the validity of the solution.

A system for a peer edge computing node in a peer-to-peer edge computing network for blockchain and smart contract-supported decentralized computation with off-chain solution verification, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing program code, the at least one memory operatively connected to the at least one processor, the program code when executed by the at least one processor causing the processor to:
• poll a deployed reward smart contract on a blockchain maintained by a blockchain network for an availability of a computation task registered on the blockchain by a peer task initiator node in the peer-to-peer edge computing network,
• wherein the peer-to-peer edge computing network comprises a first plurality of peer nodes including the peer edge computing node and the peer task initiator node,
• wherein each of the first plurality of peer nodes is a peer edge computing node configured to perform edge computing functions,
• wherein the blockchain network comprises a second plurality of peer nodes distinct from the first plurality of peer nodes,
• wherein each of the second plurality of peer nodes is a peer guardian node participating in consensus to finalize blocks in the blockchain and in executing smart contracts in finalized blocks of the blockchain,
• wherein each of the first plurality of peer edge computing nodes is connected to at least one of the second plurality of peer guardian nodes,
• wherein the computation task is registered on the blockchain by the peer task initiator node by sending an identifier for the computation task to at least one of the second plurality of peer guardian nodes, as input to the deployed reward smart contract on the blockchain, and
• wherein the deployed reward smart contract is executed by each of the second plurality of peer guardian nodes,
• select the peer task initiator node based on the availability of the computation task polled from the deployed reward smart contract, and a reputation score of the peer task initiator node;
• send a poll message to the peer task initiator node, through a peer-to-peer network connection between the peer task initiator node and the peer edge computing node, requesting a task information for the computation task,
• wherein the task information is needed to complete the computation task;
• receive the task information for the computation task from the peer task initiator node through the peer-to-peer network connection;
• compute a solution to the computation task;
• submit the solution to the peer task initiator node through the peer-to-peer network connection,
• wherein the peer task initiator node verifies the solution by determining a validity of the solution;
• submit a function of the solution to the deployed reward smart contract;
• and
• receive a reward from a reward pool on the blockchain for computing the solution,
• wherein the peer task initiator node notifies the deployed reward smart contract to transfer the reward from the reward pool on the blockchain to the peer edge computing node based on the validity of the solution.